An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

ARTICLE SEARCH

Artists needed to help create display for SARC

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office here needs artists to design T-shirts for Sexual Assault Awareness Month coming up in April.

The Clothesline Project, which according to the base Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Jessica Bradshaw, was created to give victims of violent crimes a voice without being personally acknowledged.

"This project allows victims of sexual assault an opportunity to design an anonymous T-shirt without giving names, squadrons or using profanity," Bradshaw said. "This can be a healing process for a victim and will also illustrate to other victims of sexual assault that they are not alone."

Bradshaw said everyone is encouraged to participate. She said she hopes the base will come together as a community to support those who have been hurt by such heinous crimes. Additionally, the program supports the Air Force and Department of Defense's zero tolerance policy with sexual assaults.

The project, which began in 1990 near Cape Cod, Mass., has become a globally recognized awareness event. It is a vehicle for women affected by violence to express their emotions by decorating a shirt. They then hang their shirt on a clothesline to be viewed by others as a testimony to the problem of violence against women. CLP is held not only on military bases, but also college campuses and corporate offices.

Recently, the Student Assault Resource Center at the University of Montana in Missoula, Mont., organized a "Take Back the Night" rally to illustrate that violence happens everywhere and to anyone. The Clothesline Project is designed to help survivors realize they are never alone.

Team Fairchild artists can either buy their own white shirts or they can swing by the SAPR office and pick up a free one. Examples are located in the SAPR office for those looking for inspirations, Bradshaw said. She added, her office will have the final say on the appropriateness of submitted shirts.

"We'll need people to drop off completed shirts to the SAPR office, the base clinic [room 116A] or the clothes hamper located in the education building next to the library," Bradshaw said. "It's important to give a voice to victims of sexual assault. This is a traumatizing event that is difficult to discuss and designing a shirt to be displayed across base helps victims realize they are not alone. It can also show a realistic view that there may be more victims of sexual assault than some people would assume."

According to the project's website, the endeavor is meant to make folks aware of the seriousness of the crime and build support to mitigate future incidents.

"Sexual Assault is one of the most underreported crimes not only in the military but nationally as well," Bradshaw said. "The SAPR office has some completed T-shirts and we are excited to receive more to be displayed around the base in April. It's time for victim's of this traumatic crime to be heard."

For more information on the program and how to get involved, call the SAPR office at 247-4771. The SARC hotline is 247-7272 for 24/7 assistance with sexual assault related matters. There are also other resources available for victims, such as victim advocates and the chapel corps.